You know you’re in your 30s when putting that new carpet and wall decors you bought is in the top 5 highlights of your day. To prove otherwise, I thought we all should go out somewhere. So while rolling out Aalu paranthas for my family, I suggested my husband that we should go to a mall. Although I know my husband is completely against the idea of going to a shopping mall on a Sunday, to my utter surprise he said “hmmm.. yeah..Ok!!!” You see he is a man of few words.
Within an hour, with kids tucked in back seat, “chicken kuckdu ku” song on full blast, we were on road. By the time we reached there braving all the traffic, it was already lunch time. After circling the mall parking like a planet in its orbit for a long time we finally traced an empty parking slot. At least 5 cars rushed towards it in gladiator style. Unmindful of basic courtesy or consideration for the unfortunate soul who was the first to sight the bounty, we managed to park our car.
Eating at the food court can be an option in peak hours only if you like playing musical chair. I suggested that we should eat at a foriegn burger joint. Atleast you get to sit and eat peacefully without three people standing on your head with sizzlers and dosas. My husband said “hmmm…yeah..Ok!!! Kids were happy too. They got a free toy with the meal. Little did they care that daddy has paid four times the value of that toy for one burger.
The day started unfolding once we got into ‘Starmarks’. Four of us with different agenda on our minds went four different ways into the store. I was looking out for my next read, when I spotted my younger one kicking one of the shelves. I reached there in one big leap just before the toys came crashing down. A stern “NO, dont do that” was enough to make her howl on top of her voice. A lady standing across had a wicked smile on her face. She had her maid tagged along to take care of the ‘baba logs’. Damn that b****. In desperation, I looked towards my husband, who in turn moved further ten feets away with “its my bloody sunday too” look in his eyes. Somehow managing the situation with the younger one on my waist for rest of the evening, and ten different shopping bags, I thought it was enough of quality time. “Lets head home”, I said, to which my husband replied, “hmmm…yeah…Ok!!!”
We must have heard that bloody song from Bajrangi Bhaijaan at least 10 times on way back also. I had a splitting headcahe and backache by the time we got back. Kids got busy with the books they had bought. My husband lovingly applied MOOV on my back and said “Baby, lets avoid going to a mall next time unless absolutely necessary”. I replied “hmm…yeah…Ok”.